SBRT + Checkpoint Inhibitors for Cancer

This trial tests whether combining stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with checkpoint inhibitors can enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors help the body's defenses attack cancer cells, but their effectiveness can diminish over time. The trial seeks to determine if SBRT can restore their efficacy, particularly for individuals with metastatic cancer. Those with certain types of metastatic cancer, such as melanoma or lung cancer, who have been on checkpoint inhibitor treatment for at least two months, may qualify. Participants should have up to five cancer spots with limited growth and be able to continue checkpoint inhibitor therapy after radiation. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on assessing the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you must stop taking immunosuppressive medications like steroids at least 14 days before starting the trial. You can continue taking immune checkpoint inhibitors if you are already on them.

Research has shown that stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies indicate that patients receiving SBRT for certain cancers have experienced good survival rates and manageable side effects. Specifically, one study found SBRT to be safe and effective for treating lung cancer, yielding positive results for patients.

Checkpoint inhibitors, already approved by the FDA for some cancer types, have passed safety checks for those uses. Although combining SBRT with checkpoint inhibitors is new in a formal trial, each treatment has demonstrated acceptable safety in previous studies.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with checkpoint inhibitors is unique because it offers a targeted approach that can precisely hit cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which can affect larger areas, SBRT delivers high doses of radiation to very specific spots, potentially leading to fewer side effects and quicker recovery times. Additionally, checkpoint inhibitors work by unleashing the body's immune system to fight cancer more effectively. Researchers are excited about this combination because it could enhance the immune response against tumors, offering a powerful one-two punch that could outperform existing treatments like chemotherapy and standard radiation therapy.

Studies have shown that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) effectively treats cancer. For example, two years after SBRT treatment, survival rates range from 80% to 90%. This type of radiation precisely targets tumors, often leading to better results. In this trial, researchers will combine SBRT with checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system fight cancer. This combination could enhance the effectiveness of these drugs. Although clinical trials have not formally tested this specific combination, it appears promising based on the individual effectiveness of each treatment.¹³⁴⁶⁷